A Mike Wallace tidbit

[Nick]

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reports...

The ***** inquired about Mike Wallace but ...
March 21, 2012

Good news for all the ***** fans clamoring for wide receiver Mike Wallace. The ***** did indeed make an inquiry about the Steelers restricted free agent during the opening week of free agency. But they and the other teams that asked about Wallace were told the receiver was looking for a lot of money.

How much? A league source said that Wallace, 25, wants a contract that surpasses the eight-year, $120 million deal that Larry Fitzgerald signed last year with the Cardinals. Combine that with the first-round pick any team that signs Wallace to an offer sheet would lose if the Steelers didn't match the offer, and you start to understand why we've heard so little about Wallace in the last week and a half.

That, of course, could change. Teams have another month to sign restricted free agents. But at that price, the ***** aren't interested, and it's hard to imagine the Patriots, Bengals and Ravens paying that either.

Wallace ranked 11th in receiving yards last season with 1,193 yards, and he scored eight touchdowns. Fitzgerald ranked fourth with 1,411 yards and eight touchdowns. The Steelers placed a first-round tender worth $2.74 million on Wallace. If Wallace signs it, he'll become an unrestricted free agent next season and all 32 teams will be able to bid on him without the fear of losing a draft pick.

Maybe that's his strategy. Calls to Wallace's agent last week and this week have not been returned.

Any Rams fans still interested, should this report be accurate?

[viper]

Uh...that would be a no!

[berg8309]

hmm, that's a bit pricey for my taste. I'll take my receivers with a lot talent, but hold the ego please.

[CanadianRamsFan]

umm... so I hear this Blackmon kid is good...

[Rambos]

You lost me at looking for a lot of money.

[AvengerRam]

It almost makes you think that FA prices might actually impact draft plans given the rookie scale... what a concept.

[tomahawk247]

He wants to be paid more than Andre Johnson? Yeah good luck with that...

[sosa39rams]

April Fools?

[Rambos]

It almost makes you think that FA prices might actually impact draft plans given the rookie scale... what a concept.

Yeah you are right.. but that's what the vet's wanted in the new deal.. they did not want to see rookies getting 50 Mil without playing a down. That money is better served going to players that have done something... I think it makes the draft even more critical, if you miss when the players are cheaper you can't build a team in free agency with the elite players asking so much and getting it. Mike Wallace will go back to the Steelers he just has not done it at that level long enough to get top dollar IMO. Plus a number one draft pick... not happening

[r8rh8rmike]

No need to worry about the Rams even looking at Wallace. Since they traded their original first round pick, they're out of the running by rule.

[RockinRam]

It almost makes you think that FA prices might actually impact draft plans given the rookie scale... what a concept.

Maybe you should start a thread concerning this phenomenon.

[RebelYell]

I am absolutely shocked that a player would ask for huge dollars when he begins negotiations of his contract. Is this the first player in the history of the league to do so?

[sosa39rams]

Mike Wallace per twitter : " Dnt believe everything u hear! "

Perhaps its being used as leverage (for the Steelers) for other teams to back off...

[THOLTFAN81]

No need to worry about the Rams even looking at Wallace. Since they traded their original first round pick, they're out of the running by rule.

You don't really think the Steelers would trade him to the say the ***** for a late first round pick, as opposed to a sign and trade for the sixth overall?

If we want him, we will get him. The Steelers would jump at the chance for the sixth overall pick for a player they cannot afford.

[r8rh8rmike]

You don't really think the Steelers would trade him to the say the ***** for a late first round pick, as opposed to a sign and trade for the sixth overall?

If we want him, we will get him. The Steelers would jump at the chance for the sixth overall pick for a player they cannot afford.

Perhaps, but it sounds like they want to keep him.